The AP (11/30) reports, "Southeast Sandy has the state's highest rate of melanoma, breast and colorectal cancer cases, according to a Utah Department of Health report released Tuesday." The new "report also identified more than two dozen other Utah locations as having higher-than-average cancer rates." According to the Deseret Morning News (UT) (11/30, Leonard), "The report identifies breast, colon, lung, prostate and skin cancer, mortality and screening rates in 61 designated small areas of Utah, to give community leaders and policymakers an idea of what can and needs to be done to 'best allocate limited funds to communities with the greatest need,' said State Epidemiologist Dr. Robert Rolfs." The Salt Lake (UT) Tribune (11/30, May) reports that "women from Utah are some of the least likely to get mammograms to detect breast cancer, and health officials are stumped as to why." According to the Tribune, however, "Utah has the nation's second-lowest cancer rate and the lowest cancer death rate in the country."
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MedWire (6/24, Davenport) reported, "Patients with moderate to severe psoriasis have high rates of alcohol misuse," according to a study published in the June issue of the British Journal of Dermatology. In a study involving 135 patients diagnosed with moderate to severe psoriasis, the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test and the CAGE questionnaire "scales identified 21% of the patients as having difficulties with alcohol, while" the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test "score indicated that 32% of individuals had current hazardous drinking habits."
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WebMD (6/6, Mann) reported, "The changes that lead to skin cancer may actually begin during baby's first year, when an infant's skin is most vulnerable to burns and sun damage, according to a new report in the July issue of Pediatrics." At that time in a child's life, the skin is still developing and is more easily damaged by ultraviolet rays. For that reason, experts urge parents to keep babies and toddlers indoors during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and to apply sunscreen liberally to children before going outside, paying particularly attention to "ears, nose, and scalp." Because little children have sensitive skin, parents should perform a patch test first before trying out a new sunscreen on them. Finally, the sunscreen chosen should block both UVA and UVB rays.
MedPage Today (6/5, Fiore) reported, "In a cross-sectional analysis, having more wrinkles was associated with having lower bone mineral density (BMD; P<0.01)," according to research presented at a press briefing at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting. In a study of 114 patients, researchers "found that more skin wrinkling was associated with having lower bone density at the spine, femoral neck, and total body (P<0.01 for all)." In addition, "having more glabellar wrinkles on the forehead was related to lower bone density at the femoral neck (P=0.033), while increasing skin rigidity at the face and the forehead was tied to stronger bones at the hip and spine (P<0.001)." HealthDay (6/4, Mozes) reported, "Because poor bone density can lead to broken bones, a link between wrinkles and bone density -- if confirmed -- might prompt development of an inexpensive way to identify postmenopausal women at highest risk for fractures," the study authors theorized. The investigators pointed "out that a possible relationship between bone and skin health could be rooted in the fact that the two share the same building blocks -- proteins called collagens." And, "age-related collagen changes, they noted, could explain both the wrinkling and sagging of skin and a simultaneous deterioration of bone quality and quantity."
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In "Skin Deep," the New York Times (6/2, E3, Saint Louis, Subscription Publication) reports, "Like home renovators who overhaul the kitchen only to then find fault with the master bath, some dermatology patients feel that, once their wrinkles are relaxed and their brown spots treated, their pores stand out. Such is the level of worry that doctors have nicknamed the condition 'porexia.'" Dermatologist Mary Lupo, MD, of the Tulane University School of Medicine, explained, "Instead of looking at the global picture, they overfocus on an individual component of the picture." Unfortunately, the size of pores is genetically determined and grows as people age. Some dermatologists treat patients with big pores with an Isolaz machine, an FDA-approved device for the treatment of mild and moderate acne.
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HealthDay (6/1, Goodwin) reported that for patients with advanced melanoma, a "vaccine combined with an immune-boosting drug is showing promise," according to the results of a Phase 3 clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In the trial, which was "conducted at 21 care centers," researchers randomized "185 patients with metastatic melanoma" to receive either the vaccine "followed by interleukin-2" or interleukin-2 alone. They found that roughly "16 percent of those given the vaccine/interleukin-2 combination saw their tumors shrink by 50 percent or more, compared to six percent given interleukin-2 alone." MedPage Today (6/1, Smith) reported that progression-free survival was "longer in the vaccine group -- 2.2 months versus 1.6 months -- and the difference was significant at P=0.008. ... Grades 3 to 5 toxic effects were 'consistent with the expected side effects' in patients getting high-dose interleukin-2," the researchers noted, with one exception: The vaccine patients experienced "increased rates of arrhythmias." WebMD (6/1, Goodman) also covered the trial results.
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The Chicago Sun-Times (5/31, Szabo) reported that "since 1992, rates of melanoma -- once considered an old person's disease -- have risen three percent a year in white women 15 to 39, the American Cancer Society says." Unfortunately, "people who have used tanning beds are 74 percent more likely than others to develop melanoma, a 2010 study shows." For that reason, among others, "the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Dermatology and World Health Organization all have called on states to ban children under 18 from tanning salons."
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WebMD (7/14, Goodman) reported, "People who say they vigilantly apply sunscreen are more likely to experience painful, damaging sunburns," according to a study published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control. After analyzing "information on more than 3,000 white adults that was collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey," then adjusting for confounding factors, researchers found that "people who said they frequently used sunscreen...had 23% greater risk of multiple sunburns in the past year, compared to people who said they seldom used the stuff." The study authors theorized that people are not using enough sunscreen to protect themselves properly.
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MedWire (5/27, Guy) reported that, according to a study published online in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, "Dead Sea climatotherapy (DSC) is not only highly effective for treatment of plaque psoriasis, but has the greatest effect on early- versus late-onset forms of the disease." After reviewing "the records of 605 plaque psoriasis patients treated between 2003 and 2007," researchers also found that "overall, DSC was considered successful in an 'impressive' 73% of all cases."
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BBC News (Bowdler) reported that, according to a study published in the journal Nature, researchers claim to "have managed to convert human skin cells directly into functioning brain cells." For the study, "the scientists used genetically modified viruses to introduce four different 'transcription factors' into foetal skin cells." The investigators "found the introduction of these four transcription factors had the effect of switching a small portion of the skin cells into cells which functioned like neurons."
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In continuing coverage, the San Francisco Chronicle (A1, Fimrite) reports on its front page, "More than half of the sunscreens on the market do not provide adequate UVA protection, and many of them actually contain hazardous ingredients, according to an analysis of 292 national brands and 1,700 products by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG)." Researchers from EWG said "the problem...is that the sunscreen industry has taken advantage of lax federal regulations and allowed a marketing Wild West to develop. Many products with high sun-protection factor, or SPF, ratings contain bad ingredients, and companies use unsubstantiated claims about their effectiveness to market them, the group said." "Since the Food and Drug Administration doesn't regulate sunscreen, the EWG says, it's up to the consumer to suss out what's safe," the Time (Melnick) "Healthland" blog reported. And, according to the EWG, "60% of sunscreens on the American market wouldn't pass Europe's more stringent regulations." Consumer Reports Magazine Evaluates Sunscreens. WebMD ( Doheny) reported, "Nine of 22 sunscreens tested by Consumer Reports Health earned a 'recommended' or 'Best Buy' rating in the organization's latest evaluation," which was released yesterday and will appear in the July issue of Consumer Reports magazine. "All nine got excellent marks for protection from UVB rays (which cause sunburn) even after water immersion. All provided very good protection against UVA rays, which penetrate deeper and are linked with aging and tanning." Sunscreens receiving the "Best Buy" rating were Up & Up Sport SPF 30, No-Ad with Aloe and Vitamin E SPF 45, and Equate Baby SPF 50.
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The New York Times (5/20, A13, McNeil, Harris, Subscription Publication) reports that a CDC public health blog was recently updated with "instructions on coping with a zombie apocalypse." The agency recommends preparing for zombies invasions, hurricanes or pandemics by having an emergency kit, which "includes things like water, food, and other supplies to get you through the first couple of days before you can locate a zombie-free refugee camp." This "idea, said David Daigle, a CDC spokesman whose portfolio includes disaster response, came up as they were discussing how to make the agency's annual 'It's Hurricane Season Again' press release a little sexier." The Los Angeles Times (5/20, Khan) "Booster Shots" blog reports, "Preparing for disasters has always been part of the mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from hurricanes to flu pandemics." In order to attract public attention to disaster preparedness advice, Dr. Ali S. Khan, an assistant surgeon general with the CDC and head of its office of Public Health Preparedness, along with other agency staff, decided to include recommendations for surviving a "zombie apocalypse." The Washington Post (5/20, Bell) says in a blog posting, "The CDC has decided that if you're prepared for a Zombie Apocalypse, you're prepared for any emergency." The agency's blog posting on the subject "includes a series of badges and recommendations on what to do in case flesh-eating zombies take over the world. The steps are pretty simple: prepare an emergency kit, make a plan for evacuation routes and family meeting spots, and be prepared by following CDC alerts on Twitter." The USA Today (5/20) "Science Fair" blog quips, "Never let it be said that the doctors at the Centers for Disease, Control and Prevention lack a sense of humor -- or the sense to find a fun way to teach Americans about emergency preparedness. Hence today's most excellent CDC offering: Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse." Also covering the story are Reuters (5/20, Marsh), the Chicago Tribune (5/20, Dizikes), NPR (5/20, Hensley) "Shots" blog, CBS (5/20, Freeman) on its website, the Forbes (5/20, Gibbs) "Technobabble" blog, New York Daily News (5/20, Mandell), Chicago Sun-Times (5/20, Thomas), and Deseret Morning News (UT) (5/20, Collins).
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Medscape (5/16, Barclay) reported, "Among suspicious skin lesions referred to dermatologists, only one-fifth are cancerous, but dermatologists have identified other incidental lesions, approximately half of which are malignant, according to the results of a" study published in the May issue of the Archives of Dermatology. In a retrospective study involving 400 patients, the investigators concluded, "The use of teledermatology to assess a specific lesion of concern may be associated with underdiagnosis of clinically significant lesions that are not appreciated by the referring physician." They added, "Therefore, teledermatology must not be used as a substitute for a total body skin examination." HealthDay (5/16, Salamon) also covered the story.
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The AP (5/13) reported, "A vaccine exists to reduce the risk of shingles in certain age groups, but there are many obstacles to obtaining the shot." The "Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine Zostavax in 2006 for use in people 60 and older, and earlier this year the agency OK'd the shot for ages 50 and up." However, "some medical facilities are waiting until action by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before agreeing to provide the vaccine to people 50 to 59." The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which makes vaccine recommendations to the agency, will discuss the topic next month. Also, physicians' offices often do not carry the vaccine because "the vaccine is covered under Medicare Part D (with some exceptions) but not Medicare Part B." Other obstacles include the high cost of the vaccine and supply shortages.
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MedWire (5/13, Albert) reported that, according to a study published in the June issue of the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, "recently developed sunscreens containing nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles are likely to have better efficacy than older creams containing micron-sized TiO2 particles, with no increase in toxicity." Researchers from the Food and Drug Administration came to this conclusion after evaluating "the effects of the two types of TiO2 particles in sunscreen in terms of ultraviolet (UV) light attenuation, product stability, and possible skin barrier damage." Specifically, "they tested uncoated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 21 nm (nanoscale), coated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 50 nm (nanoscale), and submicron, coated TiO2 with a primary particle size of 250 nm (microscale)."
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MedWire (5/27, Albert) reported that, according to a study published in the journal Environmental Research, "exposure to environmental mercury may increase a person's risk for developing adult-onset atopic dermatitis (AD)." In a study of "1,990 randomly selected Korean people aged 20 years or above" who underwent blood tests and who filled out a questionnaire on their medical history, researchers found that "individuals in the highest (greater than 6.04 µg/l) versus the lowest (less than 3.56 µg/l) tertile of blood mercury concentration were 50% more likely to have a lifetime history of AD."
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MedPage Today (5/9, Bankhead) reported, "Calcium and vitamin D supplementation did not reduce the overall incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in women, although those with a history of NMSC did see a 57% risk reduction for melanoma," according to research presented at an investigative dermatology meeting. Overall, in the study of some "36,282 postmenopausal women, who were randomized to 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D daily and followed for seven years," researchers found that "the supplements afforded no protection against nonmelanoma skin cancer or melanoma."
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HealthDay (5/4, Preidt) reported, "Low levels of vitamin D are common in obese adolescents," according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. For the study, "researchers screened 68 obese adolescents and found low vitamin D levels in all of the girls (72 percent were deemed deficient and 28 percent insufficient) and in 91 percent of the boys (69 percent deficient and 22 percent insufficient)." The study authors "called for closer monitoring of vitamin D levels in obese adolescents and for more research to determine if restoring normal vitamin D levels could help reduce the health risks associated with obesity."
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In "Vital Signs," the New York Times (5/10, D6, Rabin, Subscription Publication) reports, "Nearly one in 10 babies are given supplements or plant-based teas to soothe colic or help with teething during the first year of life, even though the products are unproven and may contain contaminants or spur allergies," according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. To reach these conclusions, "the researchers drew data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, a survey of women in late pregnancy and through their babies' first year of life. Conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from 2005 to 2007, the study included a nationwide sample of 2,653 healthy mothers and newborns." Rhinitis, Eczema In Childhood Associated With Adult Asthma. MedWire (5/9, Cowen) reports that, according to a study published online in the Journal of Allergy and Immunology, "a combination of eczema and rhinitis in childhood is associated with a significantly increased risk for new-onset atopic asthma in middle age and persistence of childhood asthma to adult atopic asthma." After examining "data on 1,383 individuals who were recruited at the age of 6-7 years in 1968 as part of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, and who were followed up at the age of 44 years," researchers estimated that "29.7% of persistent atopic asthma cases and 18.1% of new-onset atopic asthma cases in their study could be attributed to childhood eczema and rhinitis."
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